Access Requirements agreed onto Knowl Moor

Since October 2022 we have been in active negotiation with the British Horse Society (BHS) and other local Bridleway Groups to determine what access is required for horses off Edenfield Road onto Knowl Moor. Specific plans have been required to be agreed before any retrospective S38 Application could be applied for for the fence line along Edenfield Road. All parties have been in agreement that the fence line has made a dramatic effect in reducing the Off-Road illegal activities by 4x4's, Quad Bikes and Trial Bikers. It had been put into place at the request of both Greater Manchester Police and Lancashire Police to restrict the points at which these off-roaders could get onto and off the Moor. 

A site visit was held in November 2022 to agree precisely what was the required equestrian access.

All interested parties agreed that the priority was to make safe access to the moors at Codshaw Quarry.

The BHS kindly donated the funds to allow this work to be completed in April 2023.

The BHS also kindly mediated between the local Access Groups as a consensus could not be reached.

The agreed plans have now been finalised taking into account the BHS Guidance, S38 Application requirements and taking cognisance of other stakeholder opinions and the local terrain.

These plans will now form a lynch pin in the upcoming Section 38 application which is going to be submitted in the next few months once agreement is reached with the Lord of the Manor.

The application with then sit with the Planning Inspectorate to decide on the basis of the evidence presented and any objections whether the Section 38 approval can be granted.

Once a decision is made, dependant on the outcome, the funding for modifications will need to be sort before any additional access points can be made. Until that time access for Equestrians will be via the safe access at Codshaw Quarry and via an exiting Tiger Trap close to the Owd Betts Public House